Reinder Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Hello I am fairly new with British modeltrains. Now I would like to buy more mk1 coaches but i seen them in different boxes. Now what i know is that the current ones are of good quality but what about the older ones? The ones without the big yellow line on the boxes. New mk1 coaches are pretty expensive and i am considering buying some older ones if they don't look out of place with the new ones. Sadly i don't live in the UK so popping down to the local modelshop is not really a option to compare them. Any help would be appreciated with sharing your thoughts and opinions on the subject Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted September 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 25, 2021 The older version are very dated now. There were two versions of these, the earliest having a separately printed window inlay. Both versions have smooth printed sides with no relief. The under frame is a very basic representation and most will have silver wheels. The newer version is light years beyond the old. I sold all of my old versions on some years ago now and replaced them with the new one. In conclusion, ignore the old go for the new. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 (edited) It's a little more compicated as the clear bodies coaches effectively had two generations, the printing on the later Chinese produced verions being much denser and more finely detailed, BR1 bogies instead of the generic/LMS type and blackened wheels. Some did have moulded door lines (basically the ones that had been done before in Poole - BG, TSO/SK/RMB and BCK). The TPO was the first to have a completely plain side* which were later used to create extra varieties of coach (from memory BSK, FK, RFO and RU) after production was moved to China. The big let down on these was the underframe which was slightly worse than the original 1981 version as some time around 1990ish Farish had added blocks to stop the bogie swinging too far. Ultima Models did a detail etch to change the truss rods, etc. Yes, the new ones are still better, but a late clear body Mk.1 isn't too shabby if you upgrade the underframe. No prismatic effect round the window either. I'd say don't bother with the Poole produced versions though as the printing really wasn't up to standard and on some liveries was semi-transparent. * pre-production ones were printed onto the SK bodyshell so there were superfluous door lines, but these were only examples shown at the London Toyfair. Edited September 25, 2021 by BernardTPM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted September 26, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 26, 2021 17 hours ago, BernardTPM said: The TPO was the first to have a completely plain side* which were later used to create extra varieties of coach (from memory BSK, FK, RFO and RU) Early Chinese production on the older body shell also included a CK, although only in a couple of liveries - maroon and Crimson/cream. The early Chinese ones are OK, and from a distance don't look too out of place against a Blue-Ribbon standard coach, although there's a much bigger gap between the couplings. The Poole produced ones are good for using with vinyls or etched sides. @Reinder which types and liveries are you looking at? Steven B. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 Thanks Steven. I should have remebered that one as I did a fold-up paper interior for it, seeing as Farish forgot to tool one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 The new ones are far superior to the earlier ones. I bought a small number early ones secondhand because they were cheap. I only use them towards the back of my trains as they are noticeably not up to the current excellent GF standard. I've added electra rail graphics blue and grey sides to three of these earlier ones with mixed results. One was a very good colour match to GF coaches but the printing between the window tops wasn't perfectly straight which was disappointing but not really noticeable on a passing train. The other two were better in terms of being well printed but the blue is quite different to GF blue which is even more disappointing. I don't know how others have got on with Electra rail sides. They are a good idea but I don't expect I will buy any more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinder Posted September 27, 2021 Author Share Posted September 27, 2021 On 26/09/2021 at 18:18, Steven B said: Early Chinese production on the older body shell also included a CK, although only in a couple of liveries - maroon and Crimson/cream. The early Chinese ones are OK, and from a distance don't look too out of place against a Blue-Ribbon standard coach, although there's a much bigger gap between the couplings. The Poole produced ones are good for using with vinyls or etched sides. @Reinder which types and liveries are you looking at? Steven B. I am looking for maroon versions and blue grey. But mostly the blue grey ones. Thanks everyone for the information. I will only buy the Chinese versions. Are the minitrx coaches of the blue and grey kinda good? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted September 28, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 28, 2021 8 hours ago, Reinder said: Are the minitrx coaches of the blue and grey kinda good? These are again a product of 40 years ago and show their age. The windows are massively recessed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frobisher Posted September 28, 2021 Share Posted September 28, 2021 8 hours ago, Kris said: These are again a product of 40 years ago and show their age. The windows are massively recessed. Nearer to 50+, they also seem to be slightly under scale when along side the Farish ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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